I look forward to seeing you for the next two Wednesdays!  

l’shalom,

Rabbi Adar

Reblogged from Coffee Shop Rabbi:

I enjoy teaching basic Judaism: it's my true love, my mission, my passion. "Intro," done well, can make it much easier for outsiders to become fellow travelers in Jewish community, whether they are Gentile relatives of a Jew, or Jews who got no Jewish education, or someone looking to become a Jew.  It has to be more than facts and how-to's, because Judaism isn't just a religion, it's a vast array of ethnicities, customs, history, and culture - as Rabbi…

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(Photo credit: looking4poetry)

Intro to the Jewish Experience: Traditions of Judaism, will look at the elements that shape Judaism as it is today.  We will study the varieties of Judaism in the late antique and early medieval period, Ashkenazi Judaism, Sephardic Judaism, and the modern streams of Judaism. We will also look at some of the elements that make Judaism in America, in California, and in our local Jewish community so distinctive. The class will finish with a look at food traditions in Judaism: kashrut (keeping kosher) and other Jewish food traditions.

This class has three parts, which run in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.  They may be taken in any order. This year I have revamped the Spring class, which I felt did not do justice to the traditions of the Sephardim (Jews with roots in Spain) and to the diversity within Judaism.

The class will meet at Congregation Beth El in Berkeley on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 – 9pm.  Next fall the class will continue at Temple Sinai in Oakland, on the same day and time.

If you would like to register, you can do so on the class page in the Lehrhaus Online Catalog.

I’m looking forward to it!

– Rabbi Adar

Dear Students,

Shabbat Table (Photo credit: vidalia_11)

It was a pleasure meeting all of you last night in class!  We have a lively group of 15 (one member was ill and we will meet her next week.)

We met one another, looked over the syllabus, and did a text study on Shabbat.  By the way, if you’d like a more basic introduction to Shabbat, I recommend the reading in your text (Settings of Silver, Wylen).

Next week we have a treat: Dr. Jehon Grist will join us to teach Biblical Israel. He is both an experienced biblical archaeologist and a gifted lecturer.

Something I forgot to mention to you:  I almost always have dinner before class at Saul’s Deli, just down the hill.  Feel free to join me! I may have a book with me, but that’s just because I’m alone – don’t let that stop you from pulling up a chair. Usually I arrive there about 6pm.

See you on Wednesday night!

– Rabbi Adar

Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem

The next entry date for Intro to the Jewish Experience is coming up:  January 16!  This Winter section of the class is “Israel & Texts.”  We’ll look at the history of the Jewish People through our texts and the history of the Land of Israel.  For more detail, you can check out the Syllabus.  To register for the course, use this page in the Lehrhaus Online Catalog.

The text is Settings of Silver by Stephen Wylen. It is available in both paperback and electronic editions. You can pick up your copy locally at Afikomen Books, the very best way to do it, since buying there preserves a precious local resource, our Jewish Bookstore.

Over the next week, more resource materials and a more detailed syllabus will appear on this website. Check back often!

– Rabbi Adar

Hanukkah, fifth night (Photo credit: RahelSharon)

Wow, it’s hard to believe that our term is over.  Thanks to Anne for bringing the delicious Hanukkah treats tonight, and to everyone who supplied us with munchies during the term.  Thanks to all of you for your good questions and comments!

Tonight we talked about Brit Milah, Namings, and Conversion.  If you were not able to be with us, here is the class handout:  Birth&ConversionFactSheet

You voted tonight to divide the tzedakah fund between Shalom Bayit and the Alameda County Community Food Bank.

We won’t have class again until January 16, when we will start back up with a look at Jewish history and Jewish texts in “Israel and Texts.”  I look forward to continuing to learn with you!

Also, don’t forget to sign up for the class (if you haven’t already) at the Lehrhaus Judaica website.

See you in January!

– Rabbi Adar

Chuppah (Photo credit: Marc Love)

Yes, I know that the syllabus said “Jewish Funerals and Mourning” for this past Wednesday night, and I’m still not sure why I prepared the wrong lesson plan.  I apologize for the confusion; we went ahead with the plan for Bnei Mitzvah and Jewish Weddings, and will do Funerals next week.

Key facts about Bnei Mitzvah:

– It’s Bar Mitzvah for boys, and Bat Mitzvah for girls.  Bnei Mitzvah is the plural.

– If a person is Jewish and 13 or older, they are bar or bat mitzvah.  It has to do with age, not with a ceremony or a party. A Jew who is bar mitzvah (of age) can serve as a witness in a rabbinical court, can witness documents, and can be called to the Torah for an aliyah (Torah blessing.)

– However, the celebration of bar or bat mitzvah has become an important lifecycle event for Jewish families.

Key facts about Jewish Weddings:

– Two parts: Kiddushin and Nissuin (click on Jewish Wedding Vocabulary to get the class handout that explains the details.)

– The Ketubah is the Wedding Contract.

– The Chuppah is a wedding canopy, symbol of the new household that begins with the wedding.

– A get is a Jewish divorce document, given by the husband to the wife.

See you next week for our next-to-last class, Jewish funerals and mourning!

– Rabbi Adar

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5th Fridays: Services + Dinner in One!

Friday, November 30 

Come to our first 5th Friday early service + dinner.
Nosh at 6:00pm, Shabbat Services from 6:30-7:30, followed by no-host Mediterranean dinner to be catered by Bacheesos.  RSVPs and purchase of dinner are required ($15 per adult or $7.50 per child under 12) .  Sign up at http://ts5friday.eventbrite.com/

If expense is an issue for you, please just drop me a line (you have my email address) and let me know. I’ll make arrangements and no one but you and I will know about them.

I hope to see several of you at dinner and services!

– Rabbi Adar

Shabbat Triptych [125/366] (Photo credit: timsackton)